Babybjörn Baby Carrier One vs Ergobaby Omni 360 Carrier

Ever find yourself stuck between two products and you just can’t make up your mind? Baby registry decision fatigue is real—so Babylist’s Help Me Decide! series is here to help.

If you’re on the hunt for the best baby carrier for you and baby, odds are you’ve come across two of the most popular options around: Babybjörn’s Baby Carrier One and Ergobaby’s Omni 360 Baby Carrier. Both will take you from the baby days well into toddlerhood and are praised for their versatility, ease of use and ergonomic designs that are comfortable both for you and your little one.

But which one should you choose? While there are a lot of similarities between these two bestselling carriers, there are also some significant differences. Here’s what you need to know to make the right decision.

THE SHOWDOWN

Babybjörn Baby Carrier One

This flagship soft structured carrier from Babybjörn is a popular choice among both new and seasoned parents—and for good reason. With four different carry positions and lots of customization options around seat height and leg positioning, the Carrier One is a versatile, ergonomic solution to babywearing that’s comfortable for both you and your baby. You can use it from day one all the way through the toddler years and, unlike lots of other baby carriers, it’s easy to get the hang of and even easier to get on and off.

Ergobaby Omni 360 Baby Carrier

Another great solution to the all-in-one baby carrier, Ergobaby’s Omni 360 provides great support for both you and your little one. Newborn-ready right out of the box and usable until your little one is about 45 pounds, the Omni 360 features four carry positions and lots of thoughtful, ergonomic details to make sure your baby is in a hip-healthy position at all times. And, just like the Carrier One, the Omni 360 has a quick learning curve so you’ll be babywearing in no time.

THE LOWDOWN

What’s the same?

• Versatility. The number one feature of both the Carrier One and the Omni 360 is versatility. And it’s a really big deal! The world of babywearing is pretty vast, and there are seemingly endless options for different types of baby carriers. While this is awesome, it’s also…a lot. It can be really overwhelming to try to figure out if you want a soft structured carrier, a ring sling, a wrap or any other type of carrier, especially if you’re new to babywearing. All-in-one carriers like the Carrier One and the Omni 360 give you lots of different babywearing options in just one carrier. Since they can be worn so many different ways and through so many different phases of baby and toddlerhood, they’re a really good choice for both newbies and parents who’ve already been around the block a few times.
• Ease of use. This is another biggie when it comes to babywearing. Just like there are tons of different types of baby carriers, there are also lots of different ways to wear your baby. But mastering them all can be tricky to say the least. (Let’s just say it’s not uncommon to break out into a full-body sweat the first time you attempt to put your newborn in a baby wrap.) The Carrier One and the Omni 360 take a lot of the guesswork out of babywearing. Read your product manuals, watch a few videos (both Babybjörn and Ergobaby have a ton of great how-to and FAQ video resources on their YouTube channels that are worth a look) and you’re off. Is it the easiest thing you’ll accomplish as a new parent? Probably not. But thanks to the intuitive, straightforward design of these soft structured carriers, babywearing can become a lot more accessible than you may think.
• Newborn ready. Both the Carrier One and the Omni 360 can be used right out of the box—no newborn insert or other special accessory needed. While the minimum weight requirement of each carrier does differ by one pound—the One has an eight pound minimum while the minimum weight for the Omni 360 is seven pounds—neither require you to worry about purchasing any other accessories and are ideal options for the newborn days.
• Ergonomically designed—for you and for baby. Babywearing is an easy way to keep your little one close and a really effective way to soothe a fussy baby or toddler. But because it involves your baby’s hips, you’ll need to make sure you’re doing it correctly to encourage healthy hip development and prevent hip dysplasia. (Hip dysplasia is a general term for infant hip instability, dislocation or shallowness and is fairly common in newborn babies.) Both the Carrier One and the Omni 360 are designed to keep your baby and toddler in a hip healthy position when used properly, each featuring adjustable seats to ensure this correct position. (The Carrier One has two choices for leg positioning: wider to wrap around your body, the most ergonomic position for younger babies, or dangling straighter down for older babies. The Omni 360 has three separate Velcro tabs that control the seat’s width and can be adjusted based on how you’re carrying your baby.) And thanks to well thought out details like thick, weight-distributing waistbands, padded shoulder straps and lots of buckles and zippers for custom adjustments, both carriers are designed to be really comfortable for the babywearer themselves, too.
• Price + Washability. The Carrier One and the Omni 360 will cost you about the same, $190 and $180 respectively. And both carriers are pretty easy to wipe down and to wash. (Which you’ll need to do fairly often thanks to baby drool and other unseemly baby bodily fluids.) Both can be spot cleaned and can be thrown right in your washing machine. Just be sure to avoid the high heat of the dryer and hang to dry instead.

What’s different?

• Longevity. The biggest difference between the Carrier One and the Omni 360 is each carrier’s weight limit and age range. The Omni 360 has a longer lifespan than the Carrier One, taking you from the newborn days up until about 45 pounds as compared to the One’s limit of 33 pounds. What does that translate to in terms of your actual kiddo? For comparison, the average three year old weighs about 30 pounds (give or take), while the average four year old clocks in around 35 pounds. A carrier like the Omni 360 that can hold an extra 12 pounds of weight is going to last you a lot longer. Now whether or not you’ll actually be able to or want to carry that 45-pounder? That remains to be seen.
• Carry positions. The Carrier One and the Ergo 360 both boast the same amount of carry positions: four. But the positions for each carrier vary. With the Carrier One, you’ll get two versions of the inward-facing front position, each with a different height setting. The One also offers a forward-facing front position and a back carry. The Omni 360’s four positions include an inward-facing front, a forward-facing front, a hip carry and a back carry. It’s not a huge difference, but a difference nonetheless.
• Height positioning. Both of these popular baby carriers offer a ton of adjustable features for both your little one and for whoever is doing the babywearing, but the Carrier One also offers something else: two separate height positions. The carrier features multiple zippers to configure where and how your baby sits. If you connect the inside zipper higher up, it’s more suitable for newborns who should sit higher up on your torso, whereas if you drop the connector down to the lower zipper height it’s better for older babies.
• Breastfeeding-friendliness. The Carrier One slips on over your head and covers a decent amount of the wearer’s chest. So while it’s technically possible to breastfeed in this carrier, it’s not easy at all—and we wouldn’t recommend it. It’s much easier to nurse while wearing the Omni 360 due to how it positions baby on your chest.
• Crossable straps. There’s only one option for the Carrier One’s back straps: over your shoulders and directly down your back (think a parallel, backpack-style). The straps on the Omni 360, however, can be worn either parallel or crisscross. Crossing the straps in an X position can better help distribute baby’s weight for some babywearers; more on that below.

THE VERDICT

Babybjörn’s Carrier One and Ergobaby’s Omni 360 are two of the most popular and most versatile soft structured carriers on the market for a good reason. (Well, for lots of reasons, actually.) And they do share a ton of similar features. Keep things points in mind when trying to decide which is the right carrier for you.

The Babybjörn Carrier One may be a good choice if:

• You want a carrier that’s (slightly) easier to put on. Both of the carriers highlighted here today are pretty user-friendly, even if you’ll be putting them on unassisted. The Carrier One has a slight edge in this category, though, and that’s because of the way it goes on. The Carrier One slips on right over your head and features a pre-connected piece of fabric that goes across the back between the carrier’s shoulder straps. Since this strap is permanently attached, you won’t have to fumble with trying to connect a back buckle like you do on the Omni 360. Is this a dealbreaker? Definitely not. And while you can actually eliminate the back buckle option for the Omni 360, you’ll have to reconfigure the shoulder straps from parallel to crisscross in order to do so. (Which again isn’t a huge deal, but does involve an extra step.) The slip-on feature of the Carrier One is definitely something that you’ll appreciate if you’ll be doing a lot of solo babywearing.
• You plan on doing a lot of back carrying. The Carrier One makes it pretty easy to get your baby into a back carry position. While getting your little one into a similar position in an Omni 360 isn’t all that much more difficult, if you’re planning to back carry frequently, you may appreciate the extra ease of the Carrier One’s design.
• You’re taller. Many parents tell us that the Carrier One’s longer length works well for them. What’s the flipside here? If you’re on the shorter side, this means more pressure on your shoulders, which can be uncomfortable if you’re babywearing for extended periods of time.

The Ergobaby Omni 360 may be a good choice if:

• You want a baby carrier to last you well into the toddler years. The Omni 360’s weight max is 12 pounds higher than the Carrier One. As we outlined above, this makes a big difference in how long you’ll be able to use this carrier. If you’re looking for a one-and-done carrier solution that will take you from the newborn days until your little one is probably past the point of even wanting to be carried, the Omni 360 is your pick.
• You want a breastfeeding-friendly carrier. Thanks to its lower design, it’s definitely possible to breastfeed while wearing the Omni 360. (Ergobaby even has a video showing you just how to do it.) If you’re in the market for a nursing-friendly baby carrier, the 360 is a good option.
• You need more back support. As we mentioned above, the Omni 360 has two shoulder strap positions: parallel or crisscross. Lots of parents report that crisscross straps better distribute baby’s weight and offer better back support than parallel straps. It’s definitely something to consider, especially if you’ll be doing a lot of extended babywearing.
• You plan on doing a lot of hip carrying. Since the Carrier One doesn’t have a hip carry option, you’ll want to choose the Omni 360 if you plan on wearing your baby on your hip on the regular. The hip carry is a good position for older babies with stable head and neck control and one that most parents naturally end up in anyway when toting around their babies sans carrier. A carrier will only make this position easier on your back and arms. A hip carry also gives you a great view of your baby and your baby a great view of the world around them.

Sweaty parents, take note! If you love either of these carriers but are looking for a lighter weight option, you’re in luck. Both Babybjorn and Ergobaby make a highly breathable mesh version of these popular carriers. They’re perfect for warmer climates or if you’re prone to overheating easily.

• Babybjörn Baby Carrier One Air
• Ergobaby Omni 360 Cool Air Mesh Baby Carrier

Shop These Carriers

BabyBjörn Baby Carrier One - Denim Gray

$199.99

Add to Babylist

Buy

Babylist

$

199.99

Amazon

$

199.99

babybjorn.com

$

199.99

Ergobaby Omni 360 Baby Carrier - Pure Black

$179.99

Add to Babylist

Buy

Babylist

$

179.99

Amazon

$

130.38

Target

$

179.99